Has anyone purchased woodworking jigs or tools for General Tool? I was on the site and they have some interesting jigs and the are low priced. Just wanted to get some feed back on anyone’s experience with them.

10 replies so far

The laminate jig looks like a good investment, as i’ve had laminate try to slip under my fence before. The pocket hole jig i don’t know. It IS half the price of a similar Kreg Jig. I have the Kreg jig, and i MUCH prefer the cam lock action verses having to use a thumb screw to secure your workpiece to the jig. The Cam Lock makes it VERY fast to drill multiple holes.

Good question. I must have a dozen of their tools, but all of the few-moving-parts measuring and layout variety. No complaints. And I am impressed that they are a US company that has been in business a long time. It is also noteworthy that one of their squares (with centerfinder and anglefinder) is $225.

I did at one time, however, have their turret dowel jig and found it completely inadequate—too weak to clamp securely and too much play in the turret.

As for the laminate jig, just clamp a piece of material to your fence and make sure it is flat on the saw table and you’re there. I have an auxiliary fence with an L-section piece of sheet metal, and the whole gizmo just sits snugly on top of my fence.

Given my experience, I’d trust their measuring/layout stuff readily but look skeptically at their other things. There may well be some good tool values there, so I wouldn’t shut the door without some scrutiny.

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

I am interested in their Mortise and Tenon jig that is coming out this month. The price is supposed to be under $100 and I have been looking for something like it, just every thing I have found has been out of my range. They also have the EZ jointer clamps that look usful for working with rough sawn lumber.

I have the EZ doweling kit and the pocket hole jig. Both work for there intended purpose but nothing too fancy about them. The screw-type clamp is ok, but the end is plastic and the threads inside can strip fairly easy. I had to epoxy them on, but no other complaints besides that. There economical. If I had the money for a Kreg pocket hole jig, I probably would have purchased it instead, but I’m just glad I have a pocket hole jig. They come in handy. Especially on casework or cabinets. Hope this helps.

I have bought numerous items from General. The tools are of better quality than Harbor Freight, but not up to the quality of Starrett or Veritas or most Stanley products.

If you are making money, count the usage against the time and accuracy requirements. If you are doing it for yourself, buy it with similar requirements. Almost always a great tool is very cheap if you consider how often you use it – then it is just the money at the moment ;-)

I purchased that same E-Z Dowel Kit from Home Depot, though I think it was only about $30. It works how it’s supposed to. I think for the pocket hole I’ll hold out for the kreg jig instead, but this one works for what I need it for for now.

I purchased one of the mortising tools and am VERY happy with it! (General & General International machinery, the Canadian company). I do not understand the statement by traupmen as they may make some item similar to Starrett etc but that is not the major focus of the company! The major products are the power tools like the mortising machine and other power tools. ??